Official Time Warner Cable Thread

First, a disclaimer. I dont have any premium services like HBO, Showtime, etc. I do pay for the basic HD channels (ESPNHD, HDNET, HDNET Movies, Universal HD, INHD, INHD2) as well as all of the local HD channels.

I had the cable cards installed Tuesday (Sept 26th) but CC #1 didnt display HDNET Movies. CC2 didnt display anything in the 1600 range. The tech that did the installation mentioned that it can take up to 24 hours for the CCs to come on-line.

Long story short, as of 6:00pm on Sept 27th, both cards now receive all channels.

I was a little concerned that the TW folks were telling me that the 1600 range didnt work with the CCs. In my case the fear was unfounded.

I am considering getting a TiVo Series 3. This is an HDTV DVR that uses
two Cablecards (1.0). I like the usability of the Tivo much more than
that of the SA 8300HD. However, this box, like TVs that use Cablecards,
may not work properly if SDV (Switched Digital Video) is used by Time
Warner.

My questions are:

1. Does Time Warner in the Ithaca/Syracuse area use SDV?

2. If SDV is used, what channels use SDV?

3. What are the future plans of using SDV and what channels might use
it in the future?

I'm not interested in all the channels, so if SDV is used for some less
popular channels, it would be okay with me. However, my main concern is
that I can continue to receive all HDTV channels with CableCard (such
as ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, HDNet, plus the other premium HDTV
channels such as inHD, etc.). In addition to the HDTV channels, I'm also
most interested in the WB and Fox.

==================

The following is Time Warner's reply:

===========

As of August 1st 2006, the only channels that we us SDV on are the west
coast feeds for out premium channels like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and
Starz!. So your high definition channels should not be effected. If Time
Warner adds more channels to the SDV way of transmission you'll be
notified in writing of the changes.
==================

I really want to get a Tivo Series 3, but it's not clear what Time Warner's future plans are for SDV, and I'd be really upset if in the future there are HDTV channels that I can't get due to SDV. I see that many Time Warner subscribers have decided to go ahead and get a Series 3. Any thoughts?

I am considering getting a TiVo Series 3. This is an HDTV DVR that uses
two Cablecards (1.0). I like the usability of the Tivo much more than
that of the SA 8300HD. However, this box, like TVs that use Cablecards,
may not work properly if SDV (Switched Digital Video) is used by Time
Warner.

My questions are:

1. Does Time Warner in the Ithaca/Syracuse area use SDV?

2. If SDV is used, what channels use SDV?

3. What are the future plans of using SDV and what channels might use
it in the future?

I'm not interested in all the channels, so if SDV is used for some less
popular channels, it would be okay with me. However, my main concern is
that I can continue to receive all HDTV channels with CableCard (such
as ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, HDNet, plus the other premium HDTV
channels such as inHD, etc.). In addition to the HDTV channels, I'm also
most interested in the WB and Fox.

==================

The following is Time Warner's reply:

===========

As of August 1st 2006, the only channels that we us SDV on are the west
coast feeds for out premium channels like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and
Starz!. So your high definition channels should not be effected. If Time
Warner adds more channels to the SDV way of transmission you'll be
notified in writing of the changes.
==================

I really want to get a Tivo Series 3, but it's not clear what Time Warner's future plans are for SDV, and I'd be really upset if in the future there are HDTV channels that I can't get due to SDV. I see that many Time Warner subscribers have decided to go ahead and get a Series 3. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

We can live in fear..... or.... enjoy life. Even if they move something you like to SDV you can always rent a 8300 for that stuff and enjoy Tivo goodness for everything else. A Series 3 will always retain value for those who go OTA.

The Time Warner (former Adelphia) installer showed up early with only one cable card. He's never worked with them before. Installed it, and we kept getting the 161-1 error, even after having them reset it in the office. He called the office and told them that I needed two cablecards. He came back a half hour later, and kept getting the 161-1 error. He removed the old card and the new card worked. Everytime we tried the first card, the machine keeps returning to the 161-1 error.

After speaking to his CSR, he was told that there was a number he was going to give me to specifically get the TIVO to work. He was going to call me to give me the number. I'm still waiting for that call, and the 888-683-1000 support number keeps telling me that all representatives are busy and to call back later.

So, at the moment one tuner works (2 tuners were working with analog cable)....and I have HBO-HD and one local channel...but no HD Package (HDNET, Discover HD, etc.).

Does anyone know if I can configure analog cable and one digital cable card while I try to resolve this fiasco with Time Warner?

The Motorola box is working just fine....one cable & two tuners...plus the HD channels.

Does anyone know if I can configure analog cable and one digital cable card while I try to resolve this fiasco with Time Warner?

Click to expand...

No. I hope they do make that work someday since it's rare I need to record more than one non-local digital channel at once and I'd love to cut TW down to just one cablecard of revenue from my house.S3 FAQ

I finally got through to TWC (former Adelphia in Imperial Valley, CA...call center in Colorado), and the polite CSR lady told me that the non-working card is probably not an HD card, because it wasn't specified in the orginal work order. They look identical, but the serial numbers have a different sequence pattern. She was scheduling an "advanced tech" to come out next Friday (Oct. 6th)...but to call in a couple of days to see if they can have out out sooner (waving any setup fees)

When we talked about the functioning card not getting all of the HD channels, she said that all of the HD channels are switched on for all of the devices in my home, whether it's an HD cable card or one of their set top boxes. Her guess is that both of the cards were not HD cards (even though I get HBO-HD and one local channel in HD). I still get all the HD channels on the Motorola box. I'm hoping the advanced tech can work it out.

I recieved my S3 nearly 2 weeks ago, and it looks like it will be at least another week before I'll know whether it will even work with TWC. Because the Motorola box works fine, I might return the S3 if we TWC can't get it to work next week. I might even consider DirecTV, but my neighbor has had all kind of problems wiring up multiple TVs, phone lines, and a 2 tuner TIVO....also, they don't do local HD in my area....and he has a big obtrusive dish in the front of his house. So TWC might be the lesser of two evils. I'm really getting the sense that the S3 is an early adopter product with a lot of kinks that need to be worked out.

I hooked up the S3 back to analog cable to get 2 tuner capability back (which looks surprisingly better then the analog channels on the Motorola box). $800 is a lot of money to lose programming and features just to get a better UI and a bit sharper picture...considering my plasma as $2000+.

After four Time Warner tech visits to my home and numerous calls to both Time Warner Cable and TiVo I've finally got both CableCARDs working properly in my S3.
The problem always seemed to be with the card in Slot 2 - it would decode the digital signals but not any of the premium channels. The card was replaced several times but what finally seemed to get it working was a senior tech at the cable company who reprovisioned the card while I was on the phone with him.

I thought I was having a bad experience with the techs clearly not familiar with the TiVo S3 hardware and with TWC customer service always scheduling more truck rollouts whenever I would call rather than putting me in touch with somebody who could reprovision on the phone. But after reading what some of the people posting in this thread have gone through in other cities I don't feel so bad. If half of the stories are true about the ignorant and downright rude behavior that TiVo customers have endured from TW in other cities then I guess I'm damned lucky that I was always treated courteously. I never even had to listen to the "let me talk you out of CableCARDs" speech once!

Frankly it seems like a lot of the problems could be avoided if TW would allow consumers to install the cards ourselves. Granted I would imagine most TiVo S3 early adopters are gadget minded and aren't intimidated about hooking up A/V equipment whereas some would rather let somebody with a toolbelt install everything. But at least make it an option like picking up the STBs.

Anyway... good luck to anyone still having problems. And if you've yet to go through your install I would recommend reading that "Instructions for CableCARD Installers" and familiarizing yourself with the menus before the tech arrives.

We can live in fear..... or.... enjoy life. Even if they move something you like to SDV you can always rent a 8300 for that stuff and enjoy Tivo goodness for everything else. A Series 3 will always retain value for those who go OTA.

Come on in... the waters fine.

Click to expand...

Hee hee. Good point. Even if the SA 8300HD gets all the channels, it isn't very reliable, so yeah, a Tivo would be good to get .

Originally Posted by VoodooNYC
I'm curious about this too. Is it a system wide failure in the entire NYC area? That would really suck.

Click to expand...

alee said:

I just called and the CSR said all of Manhattan is affected. "We are aware of this problem", blah blah blah. Would be a disaster if every single CC in the area has to be replaced.

Click to expand...

Misery loves company but I promise you I didn't tell them "if mine won't work you need to break everyone else's too!"

VooDoo - where in Brooklyn are you? I'm on the Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill border near Atlantic & Henry. Maybe if the tech that's coming back out to you on Sat gets yours working he can come here and make mine work!

Misery loves company but I promise you I didn't tell them "if mine won't work you need to break everyone else's too!"

VooDoo - where in Brooklyn are you? I'm on the Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill border near Atlantic & Henry. Maybe if the tech that's coming back out to you on Sat gets yours working he can come here and make mine work!

Click to expand...

Macsamurai: I'm close by, Carroll Gardens on 2nd Place. I'm not particularly hopeful after reading all these threads that anything is going to work anytime soon. Maybe time to get Tivo involved. NYC is a pretty big market for them to lose due to lack of cablecard education!!!

My S3 is not showing the FUGSOD, which is why I am wondering if the LACk of that symptom proves what I've been saying all along, that my account is not provisioned properly. if it was, even though I am only getting a handful of channels, I'd think my cards would be equally affected by what everyone else's cards in NYC and/or Brooklyn are experiencing since yesterday. I haven't seen a post from anyone in Brooklyn with the firmware upgrade problem tho, so it's possible that only Manhattan got hit.

It all just sucks either way

It's so frustrating have a $1000 (incl the lifetime sub transfer) toy sitting in my livingroom that serves no real purpose right now other than as a pedestal for my DVD player in my AV cart!

I finally got through to TWC (former Adelphia in Imperial Valley, CA...call center in Colorado), and the polite CSR lady told me that the non-working card is probably not an HD card, because it wasn't specified in the orginal work order. They look identical, but the serial numbers have a different sequence pattern.

My installer (Austin) thought that the reason the switched digital channels which have an analog analog (not a typeo) were showing up on one cable card and not the other was because one of the cable cards was an analog cable card but the other was only digital.

I tried scanning through the posts for this answer, sorry if I missed it and this is a repeat...

I'm in LA, called TWC to schedule CC install, but the CSR said I needed to pick the cards up at the Santa Monica office. I've read in posts from people in other cities that they've been told the same only to find out TWC won't give them cards when they actually get to the office. Before I drive from Silverlake to Santa Monica, has anyone in LA picked up the cable cards from the TW office and installed them on their own?